Legal Perspective of Euthanasia in Pakistan

Abstract

Euthanasia, the act of deliberately causing or bringing an end to life in order to alleviate pain, is a highly debatable issue across the globe. The jurisprudential view of euthanasia in Pakistan is influenced by the Islamic law, constitution, and acceptable values in the society. Active euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are both regarded as illegal and ethically wrong, mainly because of the religious teachings that teach of the sanctity of life. Although passive euthanasia, including life support withdrawal, is sometimes discussed in terms of ethics, it is not legally regulated or defined. Its legalization is mostly disapproved by medical professionals, students, and the population, the opposition being based on religion, culture, and ethical issues. Although the world has made strides in the step to improve palliative care, Pakistan has no extensive legal framework that deals with end-of-life choices. This study is critical of how law intersects with religion and medical ethics as it goes through euthanasia and why we need subtle legal language and policy development to address new challenges in terminal care and patient rights.